Can opener with mechanism for automatically moving the cutter between a cutting and release position in response to operation of the crank



April 22, 1969 L. MYERS 3,439,418

CAN OPENER WITH MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATICALLY MOVING THE CUTTER BETWEEN A CUTTING AND RELEASE POSITION IN RESPONSE TO OPERATION OF THE CRANK Filed Jan. 29, 1968 Sheet L. MYERS CAN OPENER WITH MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATICALLY MOVING THE CUTTER BETWEEN A CUTTING AND RELEASE POSITION IN RESPONSE TO OPERATION OF THE CRANK Filed Jan. 29, 1968 Sheet Z 0122 llll|llmll llllll United States Patent M CAN OPENER wITII MECHANISM FOR AUTO- MATICALLY MOVING THE CUTTER BE- TWEEN A CUTTING AND RELEASE POSITION IN RESPONSE To OPERATION OF THE CRANK Louis Myers, 2410 Auburn St., Rockford, Ill. 61103 Filed Jan. 29, 1968, Ser. No. 701,291 Int. Cl. B67b 7/32 U.S. Cl. 30-8.5 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The can opener includes a support, a drive wheel mounted on the support, and a crank for rotating the drive wheel. A four-sided cutter, which is spring urged to an upper or released position, is provided for severing the end wall of a can. Mechanism is provided for automatically moving the cutter between a cutting position and the release position in response to rotation of the crank.

Background The invention pertains generally to cutlery and more particularly to can openers of the type having rim gripping and can moving means.

Can openers are generally well known. One type severs an end wall of a can along a line at the juncture between the end wall and an upstanding rim or bead portion. This type can be divided into two groups, those that are manually operated and those that are motor operated, including the electric can openers. The electric can openers have several disadvanages, among which are relative safety, expense and bulk, and the need to connect to a source of supply. In addition, the power of the motor is often a problem and, to reduce the load on the motor, a manual lever is often provided for initially puncturing the end wall of -a can. Many manually operated can openers, too, have a lever for initially puncturing the end wall. Elimination of such a lever is desirable. In addition, cleaning and replacement of the cutter are common problems.

Summary The present invention relates generally to can openrs and more particularly to a can opener having a new and improved cutter and means for effecting relative move ment of the cutter and drive wheel.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved can opener which eliminates the necessity of a lever for initially puncturing the end wall of a can.

Another object is to provide a can opener in which the relative movement of the cutter and drive wheel is accomplished by rotation of the crank or actuating handle.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a can opener having a new and improved cutter.

Other objects are to provide a can opener which is safe, which is sure in operation, which rapidly opens a can, and which is readily cleaned.

These, together with other objects and advantages of the present invention, will become apparent as the invention becomes better understood from the following description when taken in conjunction with the drawings.

Drawing FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention on a reduced scale;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the embodiment and showing the relationship of the parts in release or open position;

3,439,418 Patented Apr. 22, 1969 FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view as seen from the left of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary rear elevational view as seen from the right of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary rear elevational view illustrating the relationship of the parts in cutting position;

FIG. 6' is a fragmentary front elevational view of the can opener in cutting position; and

FIG. 7 is -a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the can opener in cutting position and showing a can in phantom lines.

Description Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings which illustrate the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention and wherein similar reference characters indicate the same parts throughout the several views.

The can opener of the present invention, generally designated by the numeral 10, is adapted for severing an end wall 12 of a can C along a line at the juncture between the end wall and an upstanding rim or bead portion 14 which surrounds the end wall. In the embodiment shown, a generally upright tubular support 21 is mounted on legs 2224 in any convenient manner. It is deemed obvious that other types of bases or supports may be provided, if desired. The legs 22-24, or other base, are advantageously of a size and weight to provide stability to the can opener. If desired, a plurality of suction cups (not shown) may be attached to the bottom side of the base to engage the surface on which the can opener rests and temporarily secure the can opener thereto. A generally U-shaped member 25 is mounted at the front side of support 21 by means of a fastener 26 to engage the side wall of the can C and restrain it against lateral movement during the severing operation,

An insert 32 is provided at the top of the tubular support 21, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 6.. The insert 32 has a chamber 34 therein and extending generally the full length thereof. At the bottom of the insert is an abutment 35 extending crosswise of the support and an opening 36 passing through the abutment for a purpose which will hereafter become apparent.

A bearing sleeve 41 passes through the support 21 and insert 32, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 6. A drive shaft 42 is rotatably supported by the sleeve 41 and has a drive wheel 43 secured to the front end thereof. Drive wheel 43 may be of any convenient type for engaging the underside of the rim or bead portion 14 and rotating the can as the drive wheel is rotated. In the embodiment illustrated, drive wheel 43 is shown as having a toothed periphery for this purpose. Adjacent the rear end of drive shaft 42 is secured an operating handle or crank 44 for rotating drive shaft 42 and thereby rotating the drive wheel 43. As shown, the crank 44 is adapted for turning by hand.

A cutter, generally designated 50, is mounted for movement between an upper or release position shown in FIGS. 2-4 and a lower or cutting position shown in FIGS. 5-7. The cutter 50 is advantageously removably mounted on a block 51 as by a fastener 52, including a nut 52' which extends rearwardly of the block a preselected distance for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent. The block 51 has a recess at 53 into which the cutter 50 is fitted to provide a protective housing for the cutter. The recess 53 has a shape which is complementary to that of a portion of the cutter periphery to restrain the cutter against rotation.

Block 51 is carried by a Z-shaped mount or member generally designated 55. The Z-shaped member includes a generally horizontal leg 56, a generally upright leg 57, and a rearwardly extending leg 58. Upright leg 57 extends past bearing sleeve 41 and is slotted as at 59 to allow vertical movement of the member 55 relative to the bearing sleeve 41 and shaft 42. As shown in the drawings, rearwardly extending leg 58 is disposed a distance below the drive shaft 42 as will be hereafter more fully described. Member 55 includes a second upright leg 62 which is disposed in chamber 34. Leg 62 is secured at its upper end to horizontal leg 56, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 6. Leg 62 also extends past bearing sleeve 41 and has a slot as at 63 of a similar size as slot 59 and for the same purpose. Insert 32 and support 21 have overlying slots 32 and 21, respectively, at the rear side thereof, for passage of a connecting pin 64 which connects legs 62 and 57 and assures that they move in unison. An extension 65 depends from the lower end of leg 62 and passes through opening 36 in insert 32. A compression spring 66 is disposed around extension 65 and seated between abutment 35 of the insert 32 and the lower end of leg 62. This compression spring normally resiliently urges leg 62 to an upper position as shown in FIG. 2. Because of the interconnection between leg 62 and the remainder of the Z-shaped member 55, the member is urged to the upper position, as is the cutter 50 supported thereby. In this manner, cutter 50 is normally urged to a release or open position.

As indicated above, the cutter 50 is movable from the release position to a cutting position, illustrated in FIGS. -7. For this purpose, means is provided for moving the cutter to its lower or cutting position. A wheel 72 is mounted on crank 44 as by a fastener 74 for engaging rearwardly extending leg 58 to force the Z-shaped member 55 and the attached cutter 50 to the lower position. As can be seen, rearwardly extending leg 58, in the lower position, is located from the axis of drive shaft 42 a distance equal to the distance from that axis to the lower surface of wheel 72 (see FIG. 6). In the upper position, leg 58 is obviously nearer the axis. To enable the wheel 72 to engage the leg 58 in its upper position, the leg extends laterally a sulficient distance as best shown in FIG. 4.

Means is provided for holding the cutter in the closed or lower position after being urged thereto by wheel 72. For this purpose, a keeper, generally designated 80, is pivotally mounted on hearing sleeve 41 between the crank 44 and vertical leg 57. In the embodiment illustrated, keeper 80 is generally L-shaped and includes arms 82 and 84 as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Arm 84 has a cam surface "86 at its extremity for engaging leg 58 in the lower position. Arm 82 is provided with a weight 88 at its extremity to generally hold the cam surface 86 engaged with leg 58 during the cutting operation. When the keeper is released, as hereafter explained, the spring 66 urges the cutter toward its upright position and, as leg 58 engages the cam surface 86, similarly urges the keeper 80 back to its release position shown in FIG. 4. The nut 52' at the rear extremity of fastener 52 limits the movement of the keeper 80 to this position.

Means is provided for automatically moving the keeper between its latch and release positions in response to movement of the crank 44. For this purpose, a friction disk 92 is engaged with the crank 44 and applies pressure to keeper 80 through a washer 94 disposed between the keeper and the friction disk (see FIGS. 2 and 6). In this manner, when the crank is rotated about drive shaft 42, the friction disk 92 provides a torque on the keeper 80 in the same direction as the rotation of the crank 44. Thus, at the start of the operation, the friction urges the keeper from its release position (FIG. 4) to its latch position (FIG. 5). It can be seen that when the crank 44 is rotated clockwise, the wheel 72 engages the leg 58 and forces the cutter downwardly through the end wall 12 of the can C simultaneously with the movement of the keeper 80 to its latch position. Thus, when the wheel disengages from the leg 58, the keeper holds the cutter in its cutting position. Upon completion of severing the end wall from the can, rotation of the handle in the opposite or counterclockwise direction, allows the friction disk 92 to apply a torque to the keeper and start its movement back toward its release position. At this point, the friction disk and spring 66 coact to completely disengage the keeper from the leg 58, and the spring 66 urges the cutter to its release position.

As explained above, the cutter is releasably mounted on block 51 by means of fastener 52 and nut 52'. The cutter is advantageously a four-sided blade which is mounted in a plane generally perpendicular to the end wall 12 of the can. Each side edge of the cutter 50 is sharpened to a cutting edge, as shown. The recess 53 is advantageously arranged so that the cutting edge in operative position is disposed at an angle indicated at A in FIG. 3 to the end wall of the can C. This angle is advantageously approximately 32 for the severing operation. The vertex between the two adjacent lower cutting edges provides a point for the initial puncturing of the end wall as the cutter is moved to the cutting position. By removing nut 52', the cutter 50 may be removed from block 51 for cleaning purposes, or for positioning another one 'of the four cutting edges into the cutting position illustrated. In this manner, the cutting blade has four times the life of an ordinary cutting edge as well as being readily removable for cleaning purposes.

It is now deemed obvious that the present invention provides a particularly advantageous can opener which has an improved cutter and improved means for effecting relative movement of the cutter and drive wheel. As described above, this relative movement is accomplished by rotation of the crank or actuating handle. It is also deemed obvious that the present invention eliminates any necessity of a lever for initially puncturing the end wall of a can.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has herein been illustrated and described, this has been done by way of illustration and not limitation, and it is to be understood that various modifications in structure will occur to a person skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. In a can opener for severing an end wall of a can along a line at the juncture between the end Wall and an upstanding rim portion surrounding the end wall, the combination of: a support having front and rear sides; a drive wheel rotatably mounted at the front of the support and engageable with said rim portion; a member on the support; a cutter secured to the member; said member and drive wheel being movable relative to each other between a cutting position and a release position; a crank rotatably mounted at the rear of the support about an axis and having a driving connection to the drive wheel to rotate the same in response to rotation of the crank; engaging means carried by said crank for engaging the member during said rotation to effect the relative movement 'of the member and drive wheel thereby pushing the cutter through the end wall of the can; keeper means engageable with the member in one position for holding the cutter and drive wheel in said cutting position; and means mounted at said axis and rotatable with the crank for moving the keeper means to its said one position after the engaging means has engaged the member.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the last-mentioned means moves the keeper means to its said one position when the crank is rotated in one direction; wherein the last-mentioned means is operative for moving the keeper means to a second position disengaged from the member in response to rotation of the crank in the direction opposite said one direction; and including resilient means for resiliently urging said relative movement of the member and drive wheel to the release position; whereby rotation of the crank in the opposite direction releases the keeper means and allows the resilient means to separate the member and drive wheel.

3. The combination of claim 1 including a drive shaft passing through the support; wherein the drive wheel is mounted on one end of the drive shaft for rotation therewith; wherein the crank is mounted at the opposite end of the drive shaft for rotating the same; wherein the member is mounted for generally vertical movement between said cutting and release positions, and including means for resiliently urging the member to its release position.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the member is generally Z-shaped, having an upper leg on which the cutter is mounted, a generally upright leg extending from the upper leg to a point below the drive shaft, and a rear wardly extending lower leg; and wherein the engaging means comprises a wheel mounted on the crank for engaging the lower leg of the Z-shaped member during the lower portion of the rotation of the crank to move said member to the cutting position.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein the keeper means is rotatably mounted on the drive shaft and located intermediate the crank and the generally upright leg of the Z-shaped member, and wherein the keeper means has a cam face for engaging the lower leg of theZ-shaped member and holding the same in cutting position.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein the keeper means is rotatably mounted on the drive shaft, and the means for moving the keeper means to its said one position comprises a friction drive member mounted on the drive shaft and disposed between the crank and the keeper means for applying torque from the crank to the keeper means. i

7. In a can opener for severing an end wall of a can along a line at the juncture between the end wall and an upstanding rim portion surrounding the end wall, the combination of: a support having front and rear sides; a drive shaft rotatably mounted on the support and extending therethrough; a drive Wheel secured to the drive shaft at the front side of the support; a crank secured to the drive shaft at the rear side of the support for rotating the drive shaft and drive wheel in response to rotation of the crank; a cutter adapted to be moved between a cutting position and a release position in response to rotation of the crank; a member for supporting the cutter and movable therewith; resilient means for resiliently urging the member and cutter to the release position; keeper means pivotally mounted on the drive shaft for movement between one position for engaging the member to hold the cutter in said cutting position and another position to "allow the cutter to move to the release position under force of the resilient means; and friction drive means disposed between the keeper means and crank for moving the keeper means to its one position in; response to clockwise rotation of the crank and for moving the keeper toward its other position in response to counterclockwise rotation of the crank.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 161,181 3/1875 Tuckerman 30353 X 1,531,442 2/ 1925 Jerdee 30--9 2,378,090 6/ 1945 Landry 309 2,491,844 12/ 1949 Wurtzebach 30--8.5 2,565,144 8/1951 McLean 309 X 2,592,937 4/1952 McLean 309 2,619,718 12/ 1952 Landry 309 3,010,203 11/1961 McLean 309 FOREIGN PATENTS 439,487 1/1927 Germany.

MYRON C. KRUSE, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 30-10 

